Community engagement plays a vital role in helping public sector partners more effectively leverage scarce resources. In the case of funding provided through an EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant, engagement by community members and professionals serving in neighborhoods where eligible brownfield project sites are located is key.  Thoughtful, actionable community engagement can help to shape site selection and foster trust, by providing community members with a better understanding of the purpose, goals, and limits of authority related to grant implementation.

The purpose of the Brownfields Assessment Grant is to return brownfield properties to productive uses, to promote healthier neighborhoods, and to serve as a catalyst for equitable development opportunities.